Kerala man chasing UFC dream killed in rare bear attack in Canada
Hrishikesh Koloth was killed in a black bear attack while working at a remote uranium site in Saskatchewan. The 27-year-old from Kerala had moved to Canada to pursue his UFC dream and was due to begin coaching in Vancouver.
A 27-year-old man from Kerala who had dreamt of fighting in the UFC was killed in a black bear attack at a remote uranium exploration site in Canada's northern Saskatchewan.
The victim, Hrishikesh Koloth, was working on contract as a technician at the Zoo Bay property operated by Vancouver-based UraniumX Discovery Corp. near Nordbye Lake, about 850 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon, where the rare bear attack took place on May 8.
Koloth had moved to Canada three years ago and was living in Penticton, British Columbia, with his older brother, Arjun Koloth. According to Arjun, he has trained in mixed martial arts for more than a decade, first in India and later in Canada, where he trained with Skoden Martial Arts in Penticton. He was also set to begin work as a boxing coach in Vancouver in June.
Arjun said his brother had come to Canada with a clear ambition, reported CBS News. "That was his dream. That's why he came here...He wanted to fight in the UFC," he told CBS News.
He described Hrishikesh as humble, fearless and deeply devoted to his family, adding, "He's not scared of anything. Two days notice before a fight? Doesn't matter. Opponent heavier than him? Doesn't matter. Win or lose, he just wanted to fight." Arjun said the coaching job was secondary to that goal.
Authorities said a civilian at the site shot and killed the bear after the attack, CBS reported. The bear has since been taken to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, where investigators will carry out a necropsy to examine its health, body condition and other evidence that could help determine what happened.
According to wildlife officials, bears emerging from hibernation at this time of year are often hungry and travel longer distances in search of food because berries and vegetation are not easily available.
The provincial government had also issued a reminder on the morning of the attack, urging residents to take precautions as bears were emerging from their dens. Officials said this was only the fourth fatal bear attack recorded in Saskatchewan's history. The last such case was in 2020, when 44-year-old Stephanie Blais was killed near her family's cabin north of Buffalo Narrows.
Arjun said he learnt of his brother's death when an RCMP officer came to his door at 4 a.m. PDT. 'An RCMP came to my door and knocked and let me know that your brother has passed away in Saskatchewan,' he recalled. Now in Kerala for his brother's funeral, Arjun said he wanted Hrishikesh to be remembered for his fighting spirit. 'Innocent heart, fighter's soul. Warrior,' he said. 'And I'd just like to say he fought the bear. That's all ... bear didn't attack him. He attacked the bear.'
Koloth's death brought to an end the pursuit that had taken him from Kerala to Canada, where he had continued training while working and was preparing to begin coaching in Vancouver. His family said they wanted him to be remembered for the determination with which he chased that goal.
A 27-year-old man from Kerala who had dreamt of fighting in the UFC was killed in a black bear attack at a remote uranium exploration site in Canada's northern Saskatchewan.
The victim, Hrishikesh Koloth, was working on contract as a technician at the Zoo Bay property operated by Vancouver-based UraniumX Discovery Corp. near Nordbye Lake, about 850 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon, where the rare bear attack took place on May 8.
Koloth had moved to Canada three years ago and was living in Penticton, British Columbia, with his older brother, Arjun Koloth. According to Arjun, he has trained in mixed martial arts for more than a decade, first in India and later in Canada, where he trained with Skoden Martial Arts in Penticton. He was also set to begin work as a boxing coach in Vancouver in June.
Arjun said his brother had come to Canada with a clear ambition, reported CBS News. "That was his dream. That's why he came here...He wanted to fight in the UFC," he told CBS News.
He described Hrishikesh as humble, fearless and deeply devoted to his family, adding, "He's not scared of anything. Two days notice before a fight? Doesn't matter. Opponent heavier than him? Doesn't matter. Win or lose, he just wanted to fight." Arjun said the coaching job was secondary to that goal.
Authorities said a civilian at the site shot and killed the bear after the attack, CBS reported. The bear has since been taken to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, where investigators will carry out a necropsy to examine its health, body condition and other evidence that could help determine what happened.
According to wildlife officials, bears emerging from hibernation at this time of year are often hungry and travel longer distances in search of food because berries and vegetation are not easily available.
The provincial government had also issued a reminder on the morning of the attack, urging residents to take precautions as bears were emerging from their dens. Officials said this was only the fourth fatal bear attack recorded in Saskatchewan's history. The last such case was in 2020, when 44-year-old Stephanie Blais was killed near her family's cabin north of Buffalo Narrows.
Arjun said he learnt of his brother's death when an RCMP officer came to his door at 4 a.m. PDT. 'An RCMP came to my door and knocked and let me know that your brother has passed away in Saskatchewan,' he recalled. Now in Kerala for his brother's funeral, Arjun said he wanted Hrishikesh to be remembered for his fighting spirit. 'Innocent heart, fighter's soul. Warrior,' he said. 'And I'd just like to say he fought the bear. That's all ... bear didn't attack him. He attacked the bear.'
Koloth's death brought to an end the pursuit that had taken him from Kerala to Canada, where he had continued training while working and was preparing to begin coaching in Vancouver. His family said they wanted him to be remembered for the determination with which he chased that goal.
